Therapeutic effect of lyophilized, Kefir-fermented milk on constipation among persons with mental and physical disabilities.

AIM: Constipation is a serious problem for persons with mental and physical disabilities in Japan. However, prophylaxis is extremely difficult because the major causes of constipation in these individuals are related to their mental and physical disabilities. Constipation can be successfully treated with glycerol enemas (GEs) and other aperients. As constipation is a lifetime issue for these persons, dietary regimens to prevent constipation can be important. METHODS: This study evaluated the probiotic effects of kefir-fermented milk for preventing constipation in 42 persons with mental and physical disabilities. The participants were administered 2 g of lyophilized kefir with each meal for 12 weeks and their bowel movements, the administration of GE and other aperients, and stool shape were recorded. RESULTS: The intake of kefir significantly reduced constipation, compared with the baseline status. Some individuals showed complete relief of constipation, whereas others showed no effect. CONCLUSION: Despite individual variations, consuming kefir daily could prevent constipation.

Differences in amino acid frequency in CagA and VacA sequences of Helicobacter pylori distinguish gastric cancer from gastric MALT lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is a pathogenic bacterium that causes various gastrointestinal diseases. The most common gastric malignancies associated with H. pylori are gastric cancer and lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). Helicobacter pylori virulence genes, namely cagA and vacA, are known to be associated with malignancy development. Conventionally, cagA and vacA were classified by looking at partial sequences of the genes. However, such genotyping has hardly proven useful predicting different risks for gastric cancer or MALT lymphoma. In search of new loci that distinguish these diseases, we investigated the full sequences of cagA and vacA. RESULTS: We compared cagA and vacA sequences of 18 and 12 H. pylori strains obtained, respectively, from patients with gastric cancer and MALT lymphoma in Oita, Japan. Conventional genotyping of cagA and vacA showed no significant difference between the two diseases. We further investigated the full protein sequences of CagA and VacA to identify loci where allele frequency was significantly different between the diseases. We found four such loci on CagA, and three such loci on VacA. We also inspected the corresponding loci on the genes of 22 gastritis strains that potentially lead to gastric cancer or MALT lymphoma in the long run. Significant differences were observed at one CagA locus between gastritis and MALT lymphoma strains, and at one VacA locus between gastritis and gastric cancer strains. CONCLUSIONS: We found novel candidate loci in H. pylori virulence genes in association with two different types of gastric malignancies that could not be differentiated by conventional genotyping. Biological connotations of the amino acid polymorphisms merit further study.

Gastritis associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Infectious mononucleosis is a self-limiting clinical syndrome caused by primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. EBV-associated gastritis, however, has rarely been documented. We report a case of a 17-year-old woman who presented with fever, sore throat, and epigastric pain. Upper endoscopy revealed diffuse granular mucosae and elevated lesions in the stomach. Histologically, the biopsied mucosa was infiltrated by numerous atypical lymphocytes. From clinical, histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and in situ hybridization analyses, we diagnosed EBV-associated gastritis. Her symptoms spontaneously resolved, and follow-up endoscopy revealed improvement and no atypical lymphocytes. To prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment, the possibility of EBV-associated gastritis should be considered.